----- Original Message -----
From: "Sandra P. Guthman"
To: < somebody else >
Sent: Monday, November 24, 2003 9:53 AM
Subject: RE: Four demands to WTTW
Thank you for your feedback. Following is our response to
Mr.Szczepanczyk's letter, which I believe addresses many of your
concerns:
October 22, 2003
Mr. Mitchell Szczepanczyk
President
Chicago Media Action
PO Box 14140
Chicago, IL 60614
Dear Mr. Szczepanczyk:
Thank you for sharing your concerns related to WTTW11 in your October 11
letter. As you know, WTTW11 has always appreciated community feedback,
and senior management has given considerable thought to the issues
presented by Chicago Media Action.
We wanted to respond promptly to some of your key points:
* WTTW11's lobby renovation did not cost 2.1 million dollars, as
incorrectly indicated by the July 27 Chicago Tribune Magazine. The
reporter combined the cost of the Digital Broadcast Operations Center
and the lobby. The construction project, which included the expanded
lobby and adjacent digital control center, was mandatory for two
reasons: WTTW11 was forced to comply with the non-funded government
mandate to convert to digital broadcasting by the year 2003. Because we
are in a competitive media marketplace and our viewers expect to see the
same technical quality seen on other local stations, we kept on the same
conversion timeline as the other stations. WTTW11 also secured a 2
million dollar capital grant exclusively designated for bricks, mortar
and technology for the digital control center. WTTW11 was also mandated
to install an elevator in our front lobby to meet requirements for
handicapped-accessibility. The lobby space with the elevator measures
only 550 square feet, and was designed to accommodate that elevator and
other handicapped-accessibility features.
* The regulations and practices of the Federal Communications Commission
clearly designate the broadcast licensee as the responsible party to
present fair and balanced programming. In public television, the
licensee is the Board of Trustees. They are responsible - and held
accountable -- for the programming created and acquired by WTTW11. Every
program accepted by Channel 11 must meet requirements for accuracy and
lack of bias, and adhere to editorial, artistic, and technical
guidelines that are designed to protect the integrity of the program
service and the public's trust in our independence. Program content
cannot be controlled by a specific activist group or interest.
In closing, the Board of Trustees is completely behind President & CEO
Dan Schmidt and the senior management team, who have taken bold and
proactive steps to meet the challenges that face all public television
stations - and other non-profit organizations -- during these
challenging financial times. It has been - and always will be -- our
goal to ensure that we provide a program service that serves all
viewers.
Once again, we appreciate your feedback.
Sincerely,
Sandra P. Guthman
Chairman
WTTW Board of Trustees